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Ben chuckled "If anyone asks, let’s tell the like rabbits to find so remotely close to that leaves your lips, Bennett McKay, the only thing you’ll be fucking in the very near future is your fist"

"Understood" He smirked "Come on You can ride with ets too uncoive you a ride? That’ll give me an excuse to leave too"

Ainsley convinced him to stop and pick up flowers for hislooks fro idiotic, lying to Ainsley, telling her that he didn’t want to show up at his folk’s place, acting like she was his girlfriend He wanted to hold her hand and lead her through theher as his He wanted to sneak a kiss from her in the food line He wanted…so much more than she did, apparently, because his question about her going just as his friend had been a test of sorts, but he wasn’t sure which one of them had failed it

He watched as she made the rounds with his family, so beautiful and confident and real For the first time he allowed himself to wonder ould happen when themore of hireat pleasure in awakening her darker sexual needs? Or would she want Ben, the rancher? Maybe she’d want neither and she’d just walk away Thatroo his weekly to-do list instead of obsessively watching Ainsley A hand clapped him on the back and he stiffened He hated Steve Talbot’s fake show of camaraderie

"Ben Good to see you"

"Talbot Thanks for colance over his shoulder "But I’ll adht my competitor to a family event"

Ben couldn’t very well point out the fact Steve wasn’t family and he was here "The community event was Ainsley’s brain child, so she should be here Besides, Chase wouldn’t have had any local recognition if not for Ainsley’s efforts on behalf of National West"

"She is…deterht away, isn’t she? That ressive Few folks around here like a pushy woed hiulped the hook "That’s a dah was forced "I see the lovely Miss Hamilton has a cha a hard worker--regardless of gender" A phrase that had never applied to Steve Talbot With that, Ben walked away

Hopefully his prickly behavior with Talbot wouldn’t bite him in the ass if he needed to call on the ive that ed a soda and found a spot in the dining room where he could keep an eye on Ainsley in case she needed rescuing

Right You just wanna watch her ass wiggle in that sexy tight skirt

As soon as Tell and Dalton saas alone, they approached hiot any news for us?"

"I haven’t talked to Rielle yet"

"Why the hell not?" Dalton demanded

"Because she can be prickly as a damn cactus Any time I’ve seen her, she’s in one of the in on her" Tell leaned closer "You need to get this deal done, Ben Soon"

He was half te to her if they thought it was so fucking easy "I get that"

"Do you?" Dalton’s gaze flicked to the banker "What were you and Talbot talking about?"

"Nothing i him about a loan, to cover, you know, your portion Because if this is about money, we can front you some cash--"

"It’s not about money Jesus" His cheeks heated "I said I’d take care of it"

"See that you do because we don’t wanna lose out on this," Tell warned

Then they took off, leaving Ben to brood

Fifteen ainst the wall next to hi" Ben snorted "As if anyone could hide in here I’et to invite half the family"

"Neither of us would’ve minded that"

"True But Moe Seeethers"